-Hi guys, Dong Ngo here.
If you have 2 computers at home and want to back things up, well you can get a bunch of extra hard drives like this one right here or [unk] a NAS server which connects to a network and provides storage to multiple devices at a time.
When it comes to NAS server, though, you can expect a lot more than just storage, and the prime example of that is what I have today, the DiskStation 1513+ from Synology.
The server comes with 5-drive bay and that means this can offer up to 20 terabytes of storage space when used with five 4-terabyte hard drives.
Now, the 5 bay is very significant because you can put this hard drive in a special configuration called RAID to offer protection against 1 or even 2 hard drive failures at the same time.
You can also replace the hard drive even when the server is still running; so, let's try.
Here we go.
You can see it's very
easy to pull a hard drive out.
Note how we can change the drive without any tool at all; also note that I just changed a 2-terabyte drive to a 3-terabyte drive, and that's right, that's another cool thing about this server.
It allows you to use hard drives of different capacities together.
Now, if you worry that the hard drive can be pulled out too easily, don't, because each of the drive bays come with a lock that you can use to securely keep them in one place, and if you choose to lock them, make sure you do not lose
this key.
On the back, the server comes with 4 USB 2.0 ports and 2 USB 3.0 ports, and 2 eSATA ports to add even more storage to it.
Even more, you can actually use printers, Wi-Fi dongles or even TV tuner with these USB ports.
Now, off here there are 2 big smart fans, smart because they work well together.
If one is removed or stops working, the other will pick up the speed to compensate, and finally, take a look at this.
The server has not 1, not 2,
not even 3 but 4 gigabit Ethernet ports, and now let's move to the cooler part of the server, its web interface which works just like a native operating system.
There you go, all familiar with a start button, the start menu and the taskbar.
You can also open multiple windows and run multiple tasks at the same time within the web page.
Now, the server comes with a package center which is very similar to an app store.
Here we can add, remove and update packages that
add more features to the server.
Now, my favorites are, of course, those that have something to do with entertainment, such as the Download Station, Video Station, Photo Station, or the popular Plex Media Server.
This package allows for streaming content stored on the server, as well as from online services.
You can stream to local devices, as well as remote mobile devices.
So, let's try it with the iPad right here.
Here we go; as you can see, there are a lot of online services to choose from, and we can add, remove them from within the apps.
You can also easy playback an episode of South Park which is my favorite show or of CNET TV which is your favorite.
Let's pick a random CNET video and see how it goes.
Here we go, very smooth; no lag.
What?
Who are these guys?
Come on, CNET, seriously?
His English really sucks.
He's good looking though; I'll give him that.
There you go.
The server has a lot to offer as you can see, and in my testing is very fast, enough to justify
the current price of some $870 with no storage included.
To learn more about the server, check out the full video at cnet.com, and to find out more about just how amazing my English is, well, keep playing this video in loop or you can follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.
Either way, it's very good for you, and that's because I'm Dong Ngo, and this has been the first look at the DiskStation [unk] from Synology.